How to care my child with third degree burn

Wound care

• Follow instructions from your child’s health care provider about how to take care of the wound. Make sure you:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your child’s dressing. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your child’s dressing as told.
  • If your child has a compression dressing, make sure your child wears it as told.
• If your child removes the dressing, reapply it as soon as possible.
• Apply creams or ointments only as told.
• Do not allow your child to scratch or pick at the wound. If the wound seems to itch, tell your child’s health care provider. He or she may be able to prescribe medicine.
• Clean the wound 2–3 times a day or as told by your health care provider.
  • Wash the wound with mild soap and water.
  • Rinse the wound with water to remove all soap.
  • Pat the wound dry with a clean towel. Do not rub it.
• If your child is very young, try covering the dressing with gauze, a stocking, a sock, or fitted clothing so your child is not tempted to remove it. If your child cannot control finger movements, try putting mittens on your child.
• Avoid exposing the wound to the sun.
• Check your child’s wound every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • More fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.

Medicine

• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• If your child was prescribed an antibiotic medicine or ointment, use it as told by your child’s health care provider. Do not stop using the antibiotic even if your child’s condition improves.

Activity

• Have your child rest as told by your child’s health care provider.
• Do not let your child exercise or participate in activities until your child’s health care provider approves.
• Have your child do range-of-motion movements as told by a physical therapist.

General instructions

• Do not have your child take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until the health care provider approves.
• Raise (elevate) the injured area above the level of your child’s heart while your child is sitting or lying down.
• Have your child drink enough fluid to keep your urine clear or pale yellow.
• Keep all follow-up appointments as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Symptoms do not improve with treatment.
• There is more redness, swelling, or pain around your child’s wound.
• Pain is not controlled with medicine.
• More fluid or blood is coming from the wound.
• Pus or a bad smell is coming from the wound.
• The wound is warm to the touch.

Get help right away if:

• There is more redness or red streaks around the wound that feel warm to the touch.
• Your child:
  • Develops a fever or chills.
  • Stops urinating.
  • Is more thirsty than normal.
  • Has trouble breathing or is short of breath.
  • Has extreme pain or discomfort.
  • Has a rapid heart rate.
  • Is confused or disoriented.

Summary

• A third-degree burn is a medical emergency.
• Treatment for this condition focuses on replacing any lost fluids, preventing infection, and limiting scarring.
• Check your child’s wound every day for signs of infection.
• Do not allow your child to take baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your child’s health care provider approves.